Congress passes spending bill, president signs

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed a $400 billion budget deal that sharply boosts spending and swells the federal deficit, ending a brief federal government shutdown that happened while most Americans were sleeping. The House and Senate approved a bill to keep the government funded through March 23, overcoming opposition from liberal Democrats as well as tea party conservatives.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is making the case on Twitter for electing more Republicans to Congress after signing a $400 billion spending plan. Trump says, “Without more Republicans in Congress, we were forced to increase spending on things we do not like or want” to help the U.S. military. He says non-military spending “will never come down” without electing more Republicans in the 2018 elections.